MAKE the most of your membership

The rapidly changing business landscape in the UK presents new challenges, making it more important than ever to share insights, solve problems collaboratively, and build connections. Join Make UK members from across the country to tap into this invaluable resource of shared knowledge and experience.

Why join us? Discover how fellow manufacturers have unlocked the full potential of Make UK membership to overcome challenges, find new opportunities, and thrive.

What’s in it for you? This session showcases the inspiring success stories of Make UK members, offering actionable insights you can apply to your own business.

Here’s what to look forward to:

Real-world success stories: Hear directly from members as they share their experiences and highlight:

  • How regional and national representation has amplified their voice
  • Ways they’ve leveraged Advantage Partners to achieve tangible benefits.
  • The impact of National Manufacturing Day in showcasing their capabilities and the amazing job opportunities available within manufacturing.
  • How the Capability Index has helped position their business for success.

Engaging panel discussion: A lively, interactive session with manufacturing peers where you can ask questions, gain practical advice, and uncover strategies that have worked for others.

What you’ll gain:

  • Insights into how to grow your business by showing you how you can connect with buyers and suppliers.
  • A clearer understanding of how to access exclusive networking and events and gain market leading intelligence.
  • New connections with like-minded businesses and industry leaders.

Make this session your chance to connect, learn, and gain actionable takeaways to strengthen your business in an increasingly complex environment.

Andrea Wilson, Director, Hone-All Precision

Andrea Wilson is a Director of Hone-All Precision, a specialist SME based in Leighton Buzzard offering precision machining services in deep hole boring, deep hole drilling, CNC honing and CNC turning, with a skilled team of forty-two.
Hone-All is a successful company with a vibrant and strong brand, recognised throughout the industry and regularly cited as an exemplar business for continuous improvement and regular investment in both their teams and technology.

The business services over four thousand customers who represent every industry including Aerospace, Defence, Automotive, Petrochemical, Nuclear, and Construction.

Andrea has spent over 25 years working to improve the awareness, recognition, and image of the industry within the UK and has been active in influencing the Government’s approach and focus to ensure long term manufacturing strategic planning and success.

This included membership of the EEDA Manufacturing Panel, the Automotive Academy Steering Committee, the NSAM / SEMTA skills Council for the Eastern region and the MTA Training & Education Committee.

She was Chair of the Make UK Eastern Regional Advisory Board for over 10 years and still sits on the Make UK RAB.

She is a passionate campaigner for a dedicated Minister for Manufacturing to represent engineering and manufacturing and improve the knowledge of, and support for, SME businesses within Government in the hope of changing the “one size fits all” approach once and for all.

Laura McBrown, Managing Director, G&B Electronics

Laura McBrown, the Managing Director of G&B Electronics, is a dynamic businesswoman with 25 years of experience in the field of contract electronics manufacturing. Based in Bordon, Hampshire, Laura has made significant contributions to the company’s success across various sectors, including medical, military and aerospace.

A compassionate leader and champion of best practice development Laura’s visionary leadership has transformed the company’s culture, setting a clearer vision and introducing core values. Her achievements have been recognised by several Leadership Awards. These prestigious accolades celebrate outstanding manufacturing leaders and their impact on UK businesses. Laura’s dedication to her talented team has been instrumental in achieving this recognition.

Laura is also a passionate ambassador for Manufacturing in the UK and diversity in business devoting time to the industry as MAKE UK Regional Advisory Board Chair, their National Advisory Board Deputy Chair and a member of Enginuity’s SME Advisory Group.

Rowan Crozier, CEO, Brandauer

Rowan Crozier is CEO of Birmingham-based Brandauer, a 162-year-old metal stamping and precision toolmaking specialist that produces millions of parts that are sent across the world every week.

The Loughborough engineering graduate, who is chair of the Make UK National Advisory board and Co-Chair of the Industry Advisory Board for Birmingham City University, is a massive advocate of developing our engineers of the future, putting in place a bespoke apprenticeship programme that currently accounts for 15% of the firm’s workforce, whist advocating communication, technicality, and entrepreneurship as the core foundations of employability of all emerging engineers.

Rowan was awarded an MBE in 2024 for his services to manufacturing and enterprise.

Dawn Huntrod, Region Director – North of England, Make UK

Dawn is an accomplished professional, serving as Regional Director for the North of England for Make UK. With a strong background in the manufacturing sector, Dawn is deeply passionate about driving innovation and growth within the industry. As a dedicated STEM Ambassador, she actively works to inspire and engage the next generation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Throughout her career, Dawn has embraced diverse roles including business coaching, where she has empowered individuals and teams to reach their full potential in business. her expertise also extends to managing high profile public funded programs, successfully delivering impactful initiatives aimed at making a difference within communities.

With a wealth of experience and a relentless drive for excellence, Dawn continues to play a vital role in shaping the future of manufacturing and fostering a culture of learning and development within the North.

Professor Mike Maddock, Managing Director, PES Performance Ltd

Mike is the Managing Director and co-owner of PES Performance Ltd and has experience in multiple business environments. His previous experience includes eleven years in multisite retailing, where as a Regional Operations Director, Mike operated 175 businesses with an annual turnover of £153 million and a team of circa 3000 + within his region.

Mike is Chair of Make UK’s Yorkshire and Humber Regional Membership board and a member of the Make UK National Membership Board. He is a Visiting Professor with the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Sheffield, is a member of the Sheffield region Science & Innovation Board, and a Board member of the Yorkshire Space Hub. He also sits on several committees advising Government.

Mike is a member of the Small Business Charter (SBC) main board, responsible for University Business School accreditation and driving the national ‘Help to Grow’ programme for BEIS which supports SME business owners.

He was also an Export Champion (2019-22) for the Department of International Trade (DIT) and has represented the DIT on international trade missions, discussing and presenting on the subject of UK Innovation.

Mike intimately understands performance markets, having competed for GBR in the sport of Skeleton bobsleigh for seven years. He also understands people, pressure environments and detailed operational planning from his thirteen years as a clearance diver and bomb disposal operative in the Royal Navy.